The Game Makers

The Game Makers was published in 2003 by the Harvard Business School Press, serving as a comprehensive corporate history of the Parker Brothers company. Author Philip E. Orbanes, a former Parker Brothers executive and longtime games industry consultant, utilized his professional background to chronicle the evolution of the organization from a small Massachusetts firm into a global powerhouse. The work explores the transformation of the board game industry through the lens of key personalities and business strategies that defined the twentieth century.

The design of the book focuses on the intersection of innovation and commerce, detailing the creation of iconic titles such as Monopoly and Clue. Orbanes provides an insider's perspective on how creative development was balanced against the rigorous demands of mass-market manufacturing and intellectual property management. Upon its release, the volume was well-received by historians and industry professionals for its scholarly approach to a subject often treated with mere nostalgia, establishing it as a primary reference for the mechanics and history of the American tabletop game industry.